Dump scow



July- 12, 1949.

Filed Deo. 6, 1945 J. K. MUNSON 2,476,108

DUMP SCOW 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JKMMM Patented July 12, 1949 DUMP SCOW JohnK. Munson, Olympia, Wash., assigner vto YLaverne E. Munson, Springfield,Ohio Application December ,6, '1945, Serial No. 633,229

7 Claims.

This invention relates generally to the class of soows and moreparticularly to scows of the self-dumping type.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improvedself-dumping type of scow which is designed to have a greater loadcarry- 'ing capacity than 'scows of similar type at present in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved self-dumpingscow which is so designed that after the balance or equilibrium of theboat is upset by flooding a predetermined .portion thereof, the shiftingof the load against a portion of the wall of the load space willfacilitate the capsizing of the structure to bring about the completedumping of the contents.

Another object of the invention is to provide 'an improved self-dumpingscow carrying shiftable air chambers which may be adjusted athwartshipfor the purpose of regulating the speed or rapidity with which thevessel is returned to righted position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe description of the same proceeds and the invention will be bestunderstood from a consideration of the following detailed descriptiontaken in association with the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, with the understanding that the invention is notconfined to a strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but maybe changed or modied so long as such changes or modifications do notldepart materially from the salient features of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in top plan of a dump vscow constructed in accordancewith the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view of the same in side elevation, parts being brokenaway to show the raised .position of the ood pipes and the scow ridinghigh in the water.

Figure '3 is a cross section taken substantially on the line 3 3 ofFigure `2.

Figure 4 is a view in Side elevation correspond- "ing to Figure 2, withparts broken away to show the position of the ood vpipes for dumping,the scow being low inthe water.

Figure 5 is a 'cross section taken substantially on the line 5 5 ofFigure 4 and showing the manner in which oodng is caused to capsize thescow. y

Figure 6 is an end View of the scow in fully Capsized position.

1n accordance with the present invention the .present improvedself-dumping scow comprises 'the hull which is generally designated I0and which consists of the side walls I I 'and the bottom I2 which isflat in accordance 'with the usual construction o'f such vessels andcurved upwardly or is rounded at both ends as indicated at I2.

The numeral I3 generally designates the to'p deck, in the central partof which is formed the well or opening It?. through which is introducedthe load to be carried.

Within the hull and spaced a substantial distance above the bottom I2 isthe load deck which is designated I5 and at each `end of the well ill isa vertical wall I6 which extends downwardly to and joins the load deckI5.

Extending upwardly at an outward inclination from the load deck,adjacent to one side o'f the well, is 'the side wall I1 and at theopposite side of the well there extends upwardly from the load deck acorresponding side wall which is designated I8 and which extendsupwardly and outwardly a substantial distance above the top deck I3providing the dump panel I8. Thus there is formed below the level of thetop deck I3 the relatively deep load space which is generally designatedI9,

The load deck I5 is continued beyond the load space walls I6, I'I and I8to join the side walls I'I and the upturned ends of the bottom, therebyforming what may be termed the inner deck which is generally designatedI5 and which completely encircles the load space I9.

Between the inner deck and load deck and the bottom of the vessel is thedead air space or closed chamber 20 which functions as a float tank to'assist in raising the boat after it has been dumped and has turned backto its upright position.

The load discharging panel I8 is upon the side of the scow which isfirst submerged in the dumping operation or, in other words, upon theside toward which the scow turns when capsizing. Upon this dumping sideof the scow the inner deck l5' is sloped down slightly below the levelof the load deck and adjacent to each end of this sloping part of theVinner deck there is formed, adjacent to the Wall vI I, thelongitudinally extending depression or well 2I.

At the outer end of each well 2|, by which is meant that end of the wellfarthest from the transverse center of the scow, there is formed at orjust above the water line, the opening 22 'in which is pivotally orrotatably mounted the right angularly directed end portion 23 of a floodpipe 24, This flood pipe is of such length that 'gimme 'when it isvertically disposed it will have its other end extended above the topdeck I3 through a hatchway 25 which is covered by the hatch 26.

The flood pipes 24, when in raised position, are lowered or allowed tomove downwardly under the force of gravity so as to assume asubstantially horizontal position Within the underlying Well, to permitwater to flow in and ood the scow in the manner hereinafter described.

When the scow is loaded and the material therein is being transported tothe desired location, the flood pipes 24 will be maintained in raisedposition and one suitable means is here illustrated for effecting theraising of the pipes and holding them in raised position and also forfacilitating their quick release when the flooding of the scow isnecessary.

The raising means here shown comprises a suitable support or standard 21having rotatably mounted thereon a ratchet wheel 28, mounted upon ashaft 29, with which is connected a crank 30 to facilitate turning theshaft. The shaft 30 has attached thereto one end of a chain 3l which isWound up on the shaft and the other end of the chain is connected withthe adjacent pipe 24 in the manner sho-wn. The supporting structure 21is mounted upon the top of the top `deck I3 over a flood pipe and thechain 3| passes downwardly from the shaft on which it is wound, to thepipe.

Pivotally coupled with the support 21 is a pawl o-r dog 32 which engagesthe ratchet wheel and holds the same against movement after the pipeha-s been raised. This dog is designed to have attached to it one end ofa rope, not shown, which extends to the tug or other boat pulling thescow so than an attendant upon the draft vessel can release one or bothof the flood pipes 24 to effect the flooding and capsizing of the scowwithout having to go on board or go near to the scow.

At each end of the scow there is mounted upon the inner deck, the lowpartition wall 33 which extends from the adjacent end wall I6 of theload space to the end I2 of the scow bottom. Each of these walls orpanels 33 has formed therethrough, flush with the surface of the loaddeck I5, the limber hole 34 to facilitate draining Water from the lowerdeck after the scow has been dumped and has returned to upright Yposition.

At each end of the scow there is supported upon the top deck, theairtight oat chamber or float body generally designated 35. Each ofthese float bodies is adjustably secured in place by the securingmembers 36, which couple the float at one end with the body of the scow.By this means each of the floats may be shifted or adjusted transverselyof the scow structure so as to obtain the proper working balance forbringing the scow right side up after the load is discharged but withoutbringing it back so quickly as to retain some of the load.

At the side of the scow opposite from the flood pipes 24 there isprovided a vent 31 in the top deck which permits the escape of air fromthe space between the wall I1 and the adjacent side Wall II of the scowbody, when the scow has been capsized and water is flowing into theflood Space and causing the flood pipe side of the scow to sink,

In the operati-on of the scow, the pivoted or swinging flood pipes 24are, of course, first raised to the upright position shown in Figure 2by the control means shown or by any other suitable means. In thisconnection, while each of the flood pipes 24 has been shown individuallycontrolled by the crank and pawl and ratchet mechanism it is to beunderstood that the raising devices for the pipes may be coupledtogether in such manner as to effect the simultaneous raising of thepipes and simultaneous releasing of the same, to drop into theirrespective Wells.

After the flood pipes have been raised the scow may be loaded so thatthe load space may be completely lled or it may be partially filled, ifdesired, it being only necessary that a sufficient load be placed in theload space to give the necessary weight to carry the float tanks 35completely under the surface of the water when the scow is capsized.

When ready to dump the load, the nood pipes 24 are released and theydrop into the Wells 2I which are filled with water from a previousdumping operation. The presence of water in the wells or splash pitsserves to check the fall of the flood pipes or, in other words, thewater in the pits functions as a shock absorber. When the ood pipes aredown, the Water runs into the scow onto the top of the inner deck in thearea lying between the wall Il with which the flood pipes are connected,and the partiti-ons or panels 33. These panels 33 momentarily prevent orcheck the spread of the water over the inner deck to the opposite sideof the scow and in this manner the scow is unbalanced and caused tocapsize, turning in a direction to first submerge the extended wallpanel I8.

As soon as the sc-ow begins to list as a result of flooding one side ofthe inner deck, the load in the load space I9 shifts toward the wall I8and slides onto the panel extension I8', thereby causing the scow tocompletely turn over and effecting the discharge of the load therefrom.

When the scow turns over, the water continues to run in through theflood pipes causing the scow to sink to approximately one-third of itswidth whereupon the air or iioat tanks 35 swing the scow back towardnormal or upright position assisted by the bottom or under deck oatchamber 20. Thus the entire structure rights itself and after m-ovingback to upright position the float chamber 20 causes the empty scow torise in the water.

As the scow comes back to upright position the load space will be filledwith water but as the structure rises this water will flow out from theload space first through the upper or top scuppers 31 and then, afterthe boat has risen to a sulicient elevation, through the lower scuppers38. As shown, these scuppers are in the form of pipes extending from andthrough the wall-s I1 and `I8 of the load space, outwardly through theadjacent side Walls II of the boat.

The water line, designated 39, is beloW the inlet ends of the floodpipes 24 and, consequently, when the boat has risen to this point thelower scuppers 38 and the flood pipes will be out of the Water or abovethe surface and the water will be completely drained from the Vloadspace and also from the inner deck I5- T-o facilitate complete drainagethe side of the inner deck I5 nearest to the flood pipes 24, is camberedslightly.

By the provision of the limber holel 34 in each of the division orpartition walls 33, the water is drained completely from that side ofthe load space opposite from the scupper pipes 38.

The deck floats 35 have been described as being secured in place by thesecuring elements 36 and it was stated that these floats are adjustabletransversely of the scow structure.

While any suitable means may be provided for mounting the iloat 35 sothat they may be adjusted transversely of the scow, the means hereillustrated and found most satisfactory, comprises a pair of U beams 40which are secured in spaced parallel relation transversely of the scowat each end, with the edges of the anges downwardly. The center or webportion of each of the U beam sections 40 has formed therethrough anumber of apertures 4 I.

The float 35 at each end of the scow, is adapted to rposition betweenthe pair of U beams y40 and it has secured to each of the sides which isadjacent toa beam 40, the two outwardly projecting ears 42, each ofwhich is provided with an aperture adapted to receive the securing bolt`3S and to aline with an aperture 4I into which the securing bolt isextended. Thus adjustment of the float transversely of the scow may bereadily made so as to position the floats 35 in the proper position soas to effect the return of the scow to upright position vafter thedumping operation. After proper adjustment of the floats is obtained,the bolt 36 may be permanently secured in place.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that a scow constructedin accordance with the present invention is capable of carrying agreater load than dumping scows of those types where the load ismaintained on the top deck. At the same time by the provision of thewall extension panel I8', the load itself assists in capsizing anddumping the scow and when the boat rights itself this extension panelcarries water back into the load space which washes out the same.

I claim:

l. A self-dumping scow having a hull including a bottom, and end andside walls, a top deck and an inner deck spaced from the bottom andforming therewith a closed oat chamber, the top deck having a well holetherein, walls extending down from theedges of the well hole to theinner deck and forming a load space below the top deck, a part of theinner deck forming the load deck of the loading space, means for noodingthe inner deck outside of the load space above the level of said loaddeck and at one side of the scow to effect the capsizing of the scow,and float chambers carried upon the top deck.

2. A self-dumping scow of the character stated in claim 1, with one ofsaid Walls at one side of the scow extending a substantial distanceupwardly at an inclination outwardly above the top deck whereby a loadwill slide thereover in the capsizing action to assist in such action.

3. A self-dumping scow having a hull including a bottom, side walls andend walls, a top deck and an inner deck spaced from the bottom andforming therewith a closed float chamber, the top deck having a wellhole therein, Walls extending down from the edges of the well hole tothe inner deck and forming a load space below the top deck,

a oat carried upon the top deck at each end of the scow, means forllooding the inner deck at one side of the scow and outside the loadspace when the scow is loaded, and means for holding back the flow ofthe flood water introduced onto the inner deck, to the opposite side ofthe scow until the major part of the said one side is flooded.

4. A self-dumping scow of the character stated in claim 3, in which thesaid means for holding back the flow of ficod water to the other side ofthe scow, comprises a relatively low partition panel extending from eachend wall to the adjacent wall of the load space and upon the inner deck.

5. A self-dumping scow of the character stated in claim 3, with thatside wall of the load space nearest to the said means for flooding theinner deck, extended a substantial distance at an inclination upwardlyand outwardly above the top deck.

6. A self-dumping scow having a hul1 including f,

a bottom, end walls and side walls, a top deck and an inner deck aboveand spaced from the bottom and forming therewith a closed float chamber,the top deck having a well hole therein, walls extending down from theedges of the well holes to the inner deck and forming a load spaceIbelow the top deck, said inner deck adjacent to one side wall having awell depression therein, an opening formed through the said one sidewall adjacent to said well depression, a ood pipe having one endlaterally turned and pivotally engaged in said opening, the pipe beingdisposed in the space between the said one side wall and the adjacentload space wall and adapted to swing from an upright position downwardlyinto the Well depression, iloats carried upon the top deck, a verticalpartition Wall upon the inner deck between each end wall of the hull andthe adjacent wall of the load space, said partition wall being ofmaterially less height than the adjacent load space wall, scuppersleading from within the load space to the outside of the hull, and meansfor effecting the raising and the dropping of the ood pipes with respectto the well depression.

'7. A self dumping scow of the character stated in claim 6, wherein theload space wall adjacent to the ilood pipe is extended upwardly andoutwardly a substantial distance above the top deck.

JOHN' K. MUNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 266,212 Sickles Oct. 17, 18821,306,322 Waters June 10, 1919 1,675,607 Henry July 3, 1928 2,003,694Munson June 4, 1935

